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Sat Mar 15, 2003 6:52 pm

I just opened up my speedo for my '58 bus and put in new gels... does any one know if the speedo needle pulls off the shaft? Its a perfect clear needle so I hate to wreck it trying... I wanted to take the needle off to repaint the brown/tan circle behind it. Thanks and look forward to any advise....s t a C e y

Sat Mar 15, 2003 9:19 pm

Stacey- I just replaced the gels in my speedo last weekend and was forced to pull off the needle. It had a spot or a stain on the tip and like an idiot I tried to wipe it off. Of course I broke the needle!. When it broke the needle swung back past the post which means there is some sort of preload.You might be money ahead to have a speedo shop handle this for you since they could calibrate the speedo so it reads correctly. Of course you can do it yourself but you might have to take out the speedo more than once.

Sun Mar 16, 2003 6:50 am

The needle just pulls off. But I agree, be very careful.

I have a Thing with the needle too short. While it goes below the 10 mph spot when stopped, it works reasonably well in all the speeds. I can keep up with traffic on I 95 so when it says 70 I must be doing at least that!

Sun Mar 16, 2003 8:16 am

I restored my speedo (gels, painted the inner ring and small plate behind the speedo), by following the info on the webpage below. It worked great. You just make a small paper mask for the needle and work around it. It takes a little 'Origami' to get it right, and lay off the coffee beforehand to eliminate a 'shaky-braky-the- needle' move. Have fun...

Here's the link: http://www.100megsfree4.com/ezcamper/vwspeedo.html

Sun Mar 16, 2003 8:43 am

If you do break your needle. Call Corona Ryan @
909-272-1074. He has new ones, both clear and white, He won't sell them but he will restore your speedo.

Sun Mar 16, 2003 1:04 pm

If you dont either have or make a puller the odds of breaking the needle or the shaft it needle goes on are high. They must be pulled straight up with no twisting. Good luck

Sun Mar 16, 2003 4:21 pm

Thanks for all the advice... I never thought about the needle being on a pre-load...even if I popped it off fine.. chances are I'd be a spline or two off when I reassemble ..and I'd have to go through the whole rig-a-marow of ripping it apart again... I'll probably go for the masking off method...safest route.... thanks again..... s t a C e y

(or on second thought.... if I make a pencil mark on the shaft where the needle points.... I should be able to assemble it bang on... ?)